All right..so I'm 17, 5'8, and 155 lbs. I came down from 165 in about 4 weeks, losing 1-2 lbs per week. But I seem to be stuck?

I don't know if I'm gaining more muscle perhaps? Or if it's aroun d my period? It just seems like the weight's NOT budging. I'm boucning around 154.7 and 155.5 on a daily basis.

I eat about 1500-1700 (usually higher...I'm very active) a day, and burn about 500+. I run and swim on teams. Pretty much evry day or every other day.

What gives?

Sun. Oct 7, 8:45am

All of the reasons you list are very likely. You also don't mention how long it's been stuck...a lot of us experience weight loss in chunks, like you lose 5-10 lbs in 4-6 weeks, and then you're stuck for another 4-6 weeks. Your body is just getting used to it, and the weight will start moving again when it's ready (welcome to the stubbornness of female fat!).

There are a ton of threads about ways to shake things up and break a plateau, but I think the only thing you should maybe try is changing the content of your diet and focus on improving fiber consumption or servings of vegetables. That was one of my easier bust-a-plateau moves and it worked like a dream.

You might also be at what your body considers its ideal weight (even if you don't - again, our bodies seem to have a mind of their own). 155 is a healthy weight for your height and I hope you're not dying to be that magic "120" that everyone has in their heads as the perfect weight - you'd look like a stick, not a girl! Anyway, as you try to lose the next few pounds, take note of how much effort you have to put into it, and how you feel healthwise. If it's ridiculously hard or you find yourself catching every little bug going around or feeling rundown a lot, then your body is screaming at you that being smaller is not a good idea...may happen at 150, 140, etc...we're all different. Just keep an eye on the signs.

And by the way, I wish I was as active as you are when I was a teenager. Athleticism at this time in your life plays a huge role in determining your metabolism as an adult as well as your ability to "get your body back" if you put on weight for any reason (pregnancy, sedentary lifestyle, etc) in later years.

Sunday, October 07, 2007, 11:52 AM

OP here.

Yeah, I'm not going for the stick thin war victem look... I'm aiming for around 145, and then from that point seeing how I look... 135 is the last "healthy weight" so anything lower tahn 140 isn't happening.

I also definately watch my health..I work at a Dr's office and volunteer at a hospital and in a clinical research area (small kids)...I catch everything! So I'm taking vitamins every day and eating pretty healthy.

What I don't understand though is how I can be SO active and work out so much and still be "flabby". I mean, I'm more muscular and hold my weight relatively well (I have a flat tummy, wide hips..ugh) and yet people who've never felt the need to walk up a flight of stairs are more tone than I am.

I think weight training is a great idea. What about trying different exercises to switch it up? Try doing the stairmaster, biking, aerobic classes, etc. Sometimes your body just needs a change to get it going again.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 11:15 AM

OP heree

Good news guys! It was just my period lol I got it today and went down a lb already.

I won't be weighing myself for a week (I never do during that time) but, I'm confident that as long as I follow my normal regime, I'll be fine.

Thanks for the tips!!!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 8:10 PM

11:04 poster here...yeah for some odd reason i forgot to even mention that b/c that always messes me up- that time of the month...and even a week prior my weight goes up a few pounds. so that's why now i've only been weighing myself in once a month (but of course i tend to sneak a few peaks on the scale lol)